Friday, August 21, 2015

Donald Trump's 'passionate' supporters

A Boston man allegedly told police that he beat and urinated on a homeless man early Wednesday because the man was Hispanic, citing real estate mogul Donald Trump's comments on undocumented immigrants as justification for the attack.

In response, the Republican presidential candidate said that "it would be a shame" if his anti-immigrant campaign rhetoric inspired the beating. He immediately pivoted from the mild condemnation to praising his "passionate" supporters' commitment to restoring America to greatness. ...

"I will say, the people that are following me are very passionate," he continued, as quoted by the Herald. "They love this country. They want this country to be great again. But they are very passionate. I will say that.”

Sick stuff, isn't it? Republican politicians incite this kind of violence - or worse - and then wash their hands of any responsibility.

Most Republicans won't do this kind of thing, not even most Trump supporters. But their rhetoric inevitably pushes a certain percentage of people - people they've deliberately made angry - into violence.

Republican politicians have found that pushing fear and anger works great, politically. Fox 'News' makes a ton of money from it, too. But is this really the kind of country we want?

Unfortunately, this could be the country we've already GOT. "Trump supporters" are the Tea Party by any other name. Their fingerprints are smudged all over Trump's rallies.

And it's no coincidence that he's pal-ing around with Sarah Palin. As much as we lampoon her, Caribou Barbie wields an enormous amount of power. She's queen of the Tea Party; get her endorsement, get that block of votes (see also Ben Sasse). Gotta "take back Murica" from those horrible, evil Lib-ruls, you know.

Beating and urinating on a homeless Hispanic man could be just the tip of the iceberg. There's something "Brownshirt-esqe" about that. Remember that "sword of Damacles" I wanted to drop on Jody P in the LJS ("If you were king for a day, what would be your "final solution" to the Liberal problem?)? The Tea Party might have some big plans for "taking back Murica." You may have noticed how the nuttier ones on the conspiracy theory side are always sqwaking about "FEMA camps." Hmmm...somebody might be tipping their hand....

Am I going off the rails on this subject, WCG? Probably. But somebody has to think worst-case scenario. You'll recall I made the comment that I (bleeping) dare Murica to elect Trump. That may have sounded flippant, but I guess I'm trying to say "be careful what you wish for."

Sure, Trump supporters are the Tea Party, more or less. And the Tea Party is basically the same group of people who supported George W. Bush. They're hardcore Republicans, whatever they call themselves.

But Jeff, I disagree about Sarah Palin wielding "an enormous amount of power." She doesn't. Far more people dislike her than like her. Even in the Republican Party, she's not enormously powerful. Heck, Fox 'News' dumped her. That should tell you something.

The Tea Party isn't especially influential, either. Trump himself is doing well compared to the other GOP candidates, but he has nowhere near majority support, even in the Republican Party.

These are all basically the same people, but they wield power as a determined minority. They're a minority in the Republican Party, which is itself a minority in America. But a determined minority can control a far larger majority, if that majority allows it.

Face it, many Americans are idiots. Most are ill-informed. Most are apathetic. It's very possible for a determined minority to control the majority in a democracy - especially with secret money bankrolling them.

But they are a minority. And Sarah Palin? Her time is done. She still has a core of supporters, of course, but she's nowhere near as influential as she used to be. She's barely even a celebrity, these days. :)

Bill Garthright

I'm a skeptic. I think it makes sense to have reasons for what I believe, so I apportion my belief to the evidence. You're welcome to disagree. Please, tell me I'm wrong. I probably don't agree with anyone about everything. Why should disagreement be a problem? Check the Pages section below for series posts and links to book reviews and game posts, as well as contact info. Unfortunately, I rarely blog at all, anymore. So don't expect new posts. - Bill

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